The bill aims to enhance access to respite care for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their caregivers by recognizing the critical role of respite care in supporting both parties. It emphasizes the need for additional respite care services, allowing caregivers to take necessary breaks and enabling individuals to maintain their independence within the community. To facilitate this, the bill proposes that respite care be included in the aggregate portion of the basic plus waiver, allowing access to funds for respite care without prior administrative approval once the annual assessed hours are exhausted.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department to submit a waiver amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by September 1, 2025, to officially add respite care to the list of aggregate services under the basic plus waiver. Upon approval, the department is required to update the waiver to include respite care, with a stipulation that no more than 30 percent of the total aggregate services budget can be allocated for this purpose. The department is also granted the authority to adopt necessary rules to implement these changes effectively.